Swingable vehicle attached ladder



Nov. 3, 1953 F. M. DAVIDSON 2,657,940

SWINGABLE VEHICLE ATTACHED LADDER Filed May 10, 195 0 INVENTOR.fia/zwflavz'ason,

ATTDRN EYE Patented Nov. 3, 1953 UNITED ES PATENT OFFICE I "25651940TSWINGABLE vnnrcm ATTACHED "LADDER Frank .M. Davidson, Glade, Kans.

a lication May 10, 1950, 5mm. 1s1-,15s

1 Claim.

This invention relates to a ladder, and more particularly to a ladderadapted'to be usedon a vehicle, such 'asa truck.

The object of the invention is to provide a nader that can be easilyattached to the body of a vehicle, such as .a truck, and wherein theladder can be swung out 'of the way when not being used, or swung to anoperative position when a persondesires to use the :ladder "to .gainaccess to the truck.

Another object of the invention is to provide a ladder for a truck whichcan be readily moved out of the way when not in use and maintained inthis out-of-the-way position, or the ladder can be swung to an operativeposition as desired.

A further object of the invention is to provide a ladder which isextremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of thefollowing description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and inwhich like numerals have been used to designate like parts through outthe same:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary, rear elevational view of a truck showing theladder assembly of the present invention in its operative position;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 2-2 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure2.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral l designates a portionof a vehicle, such as a truck, and the truck includes a bed I I, therebeing a housing or body [2 supported on the truck II. The truck I0 isfurther provided with the usual ground-engaging wheels I 3.

The present invention is directed to a ladder I 4 which, when in itsoperative position as shown in solid lines in Figure 1, enables a personto gain access to the housing l2, and when the ladder I4 is not beingused, the ladder can be swung to the position shown by broken lines inFigure 1. The ladder M includes a pair of spaced parallel legs I and I6,and extending between the legs and i6 and secured thereto is a pluralityof spaced parallel steps I1.

One end of the legs I5 is shaped to define an ofiset or transversebearing am Hi, while the corresponding end of the other leg 16 is shapedto define a bearing arm 20. A swivel mounting l9 2 serves to :pivotallyconnect the bearing arm 18 to the truck bed I-l, wherebythe ladder 14can be swung into and out of itsoperative -position.

The swivel mounting I29 includes a support member 2!, and :a bolt -22projects through an opening 23, Figure .5, .in the flat portion of thesupport member 2|, the bolt 22 also extending through .a :registeringopening :25 inthe truck :bed II. A nut '24 is arranged in threadedengage ment "with one end of the :bolt 22, and the bolt 22 provides :apivotal connection between the truck bed II and the support member 2|. Abushing 26 is circumposed on the bolt 22, and a washer 21 is alsocircumposed on the bolt 22, whereby the support member 2| will be ableto pivot about a horizontal axis in a smooth and eflicient manner andwithout any binding of the parts. The bearing arm 18 extends through asuitable opening in the support member 2 I, and a cotter pin 28 isarranged in engagement with the free end of the bearing arm l8 formaintaining the bearing arm [8 connected to or assembled to the supportmember 2 I.

Spaced from the swivel mounting I9 is a first bracket 29, Figure 3, andthe bracket 29 is secured to the truck bed by suitable securingelements, such as bolt-and-nut assemblies 3|. The bracket 29 includes alower, arcuate portion or web 30 which is adapted to receive therein thebearing arm 20, so that the ladder M can be supported or maintained inits operative position when a person desires to gain access to theinterior of the truck.

A pair of spaced bumpers 32 are also secured to the truck bed I I bysuitable securing elements, such as bolt-and-nut assemblies 33, Figures1 and 2, and the bumpers 32 are adapted to be engaged by the legs 15 andl 6 of the ladder when the ladder is being used, in order to maintainthe ladder spaced at a. sufilcient distance from the truck bed.

A second bracket 34 is secured to the rear end of the housing l2 bysuitable securing elements, such as bolt-and-nut assemblies 35, Figures1 and 3, and the bracket 34 includes a web or arcuate portion 36 for attimes receiving therein the leg N5 of the ladder l4. Thus, when theladder I4 is not being used, the ladder M can be swung from the solidline position of Figure 1 to the broken line position of Figure 1, andthe leg 16 can be engaged or arranged in the web 36, whereby the ladderwill be maintained in its out-of-the-way position until needed.

out of an operative position. When the user desires to gain access tothe housing I 2 on the truck III, the ladder H is swung to the solidline position shown in Figure 1. Then, the user can merely gain accessto the housing l2 by placing the feet on the steps ll. It will be notedthat when the ladder I4 is in its operative position, the bearing arm 20is supported by the web 30 of the bracket 29. Then, when the ladder IIis not being used, the ladder can be swung to an out-oI-the-way positionwhich is indicated by broken lines in Figure 1. Thus, the leg II; willbe received in or engaged in the web 36 of the bracket 35 so that theladder H will be maintained against the rear of the housing I2, wherebyaccidental movement or the ladder will be prevented. The support member2| is pivotally connected to the truck bed II by the bolt 22, and also,the bearing arm 18 is rotatably arranged in the support member 2 I.

The assembly of the present invention is extremely simple andinexpensive to manufacture. The parts of the ladder can be constructedof pipe if desired. Also, by removing the cotter pin 28 from the bearingarm I8, the entire ladder ll can be removed from the truck if desired.

I claim:

In combination, a truck including a bed, and a housing supported on saidbed, a ladder including a pair of spaced parallel legs, and a pluralityof spaced parallel steps extending between said legs and securedthereto, one end of each of said legs being arranged transversely withrespect to the main portion of the leg to define a bearing arm, a swivelmounting for pivotally connecting one of said bearing arms to said truckbed, a bracket spaced from said swivel mounting and secured to saidtruck bed for engagement with the other bearing arm when the ladder isbeing used, bumpers secured to said truck bed for engagement with saidlegs when the ladder is in operative position, and a bracket secured tosaid housing for supporting the ladder when the ladder is not beingused.

FRANK M. DAVIDSON.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 666,566 Sherman Jan. 22, 1901 671,767 Kaiser Apr. 9, 1901686,944 MacLean Nov. 19, 1901 2,037,805 Lindstedt Apr. 21, 19362,324,507 Johnson July 20, 1943 2,487,921 Culver Nov. 15, 1949 FOREIGNPATENTS Number Country Date 54,402 Switzerland May 11, 1911 276,377Germany July 10, 1914 516,683 Germany Jan. 26, 1931

